Concerned about potential results of a foolish action...

M

magnumenthused

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Hi guys. Be forewarned, this is a long post. Please read when you're not in a rush...

Awhile back I posted on here asking some information about a .357 magnum I was soon to receive as a hand-me-down gift from my father. I now have that magnum, it's a wonderful gun, and in my eyes a very effective home defense weapon. But last night I pulled a majorly foolish play. Best I can tell so far, there were (thank God) no tragic or really damaging results (other than a hole in the wall), but I would like input on it...

Last night I put my .357 under my pillow per usual, as it is my defensive firearm. However like a complete idiot, I was trying to test my reaction time, acting as if someone broke in. I've done this before, and I believe due to an underlying worry because I've never had to stop someone breaking into my home, and therefore wondering if I would be quick enough should that happen. I have always grown up properly around firearms, and have a long track record of using them very safely/frowning upon those who don't, except this action I describe here in recent times, which I'm not particularly proud of. I'm considering a self-defense course to learn how to properly handle such a situation, instead of guessing at it.

Anyway, so I proceeded with this extreme bonehead play of testing my reaction time, but unlike before, this time when I cocked the hammer and placed my finger on the trigger, in my tired state I fired the weapon. I'm shocked my roommate didn't wake up asking me what the **** just happened. I got up, turned the light on, and looked for what I shot, and I shot a hole thru the wall about 2 to 3 inches above the floor. I am on the 2nd floor in a 3 story apartment building.

I went outside and looked at the building. The bullet of course had gone through (details on the ammunition and firearm will follow this story). So I checked several cars in the parking lot then and even today and there seem to be no broken windows or other damage. And no ambulances or anything have come to the complex or some nearby place. Only one round was fired.

The input I'm looking for is how possible it is that someone got hurt in another apartment building, or that something was damaged. Here is the info I can provide...

Firearm: Taurus .357 model 66 hunting revolver, 6" non-vented barrel, black rubber grips, 6 shot, double action.

Ammunition: .357 case, low-power .38 target load. Semi-wadcutter all-lead bullet (the sort that looks like the conical tip is a dunce cap with the top half cut off) with a proper .7cc measurement of Hercules Red Dot powder, Winchester primer.

What is the chance that after going through the wall, it could have still travelled approximately the distance of a football field or more and still gone through another wall, either brick or siding?

I'm just deeply concerned that someone may have gotten hurt or killed at worst, or that other property damage beyond the hole in my wall was done. This definitely taught me a lesson to not fool around like such a moron again. Any input?

TIA,
Daniel
 
I don't know how the building is constructed but hopefully you hit some steel or concrete. I would doubt the penetration of an all lead wadcutter .38 target load... unless you live in a wood building.

That's all I'm gonna say. I think a lot of replies here will tell you to report the mishap.
 
Best I can tell it probably would have hit steel or concrete, or fallen to dirt. I'm about to go outside again and search an area where I suspect it might have hit. If I do report the mishap, assuming nobody was hurt and nobody's cars or windows were broken or what not (i.e. just a hole in my wall and a nick on distant bricks or concrete/a deep divit in the dirt), would I be facing any sort of charges? I'm in Texas.
 
update: it seems that the path of the bullet might have been slowed by moderately thick foliage on trees, and overall, where it wouldve hit had it continued going would have been a brick wall, yet there is no evidence of damage, and I also see no broken windows or anything.
 
lesson learned: don't practice firearm drills in your home with a loaded weapon.

also consider getting hollowpoints for self-defense. they will do more damage to an intruder and have a lower chance of overpenetration.

last thing, learn from your mistake, and be careful.
 
Lesson learned well!!! Sad to say I'm one of those fellows that must learn by personal experience sometimes. Not entirely though. Never NEVER doing that again.

Thank you both so much for replying intelligently without shooting me down (pun not intended) on how stupid and careless my actions were.

Speaking of hollow points, my dad forgot to give me and has set aside for my pickup, his old speedloader equipped with 6 semi-jacketed hollow points.

Now I've learned that with the design of a hollow point, expansion is very rapid, thereby increasing damage, but I thought that the bullet left the body with a much larger hole in back than in front. Does it actually tend to stay in the body only doing massive internal damage?

My main concern with ever having to defend myself is that the bullet would pass through and catch an innocent party when I'm only trying to save my own life and that of anyone else living with me (i.e. my roommate as of right now).
 
I don't know about charges in Texas, since I'm not familiar with Texas law. If the owner of your building finds out, however, don't be surprised if you find yourself served with an eviction notice, especially if word of what happened spreads to other tenants. Not many people want to live in the same building as somebody who they fear will accidently shoot them or thier family with a stray bullet.
 
Understandable. I fully intend to fill in the inside end of the hole with putty and paint over it. The outside end, not quite sure. It's a nicely funneled hole probably about two to three times the diameter of the bullet. I could purchase a can of spray paint, lean out the window and spray over it to mask it some, after stuffing the entire hole for insulation purposes. However I do live in the loud hell-raising building, nobody seemed to go "what the ****?!?!", and being a student complex, most people don't complain about others that much. I pray that I'll be spared such an embarrassment, and I still can't fathom how I let myself be so careless, but I'm just thankful that nobody got hurt.
 
I might mention, this magnum barely kicks at all with these target loads. Seems to be a very weak load suitable for target use only, but any load is still potentially deadly...again thank God it didn't hurt anybody or seem to cause any significant damage beyond the hole in my wall.
 
I still can't believe that your room mate didn't hear it. I'm glad no one got hurt. I would not report it if I were you. Its kind of like telling a police officer to give you a ticket because you were speeding. Consider that your free bee and be more careful.

The target loads in .38 special should not give too much penetration but the 6 inch barrel does up the velocity some. I really suggest you not put the gun under your pillow anymore. You can stick it in you night stand or in a holster next to the bed. Better yet, get one of those safes with a digital combo in the shape of a palm print. That way you won't need to worry about your gun getting stolen when you are not home.

I also suggest you find out about the gun laws. You mentioned that you live in a student complex. It is illegal to have firearms on schools. Good luck and be safe! Don't train with loaded weapons. Don't handled firearms in an impaired (or sleepy) state. You need to have your brain in gear or else you will have accidents like what happened to you. Next time you may not be so lucky.
 
I'm glad you and everyone else is OK.
I'd patch up the holes and keep quiet.
Consider yourself extremely fortunate and learn from the incident.
I don't think anyone needs to tell you to empty out the chambers and check them twice before doing and drills or draws again.
 
Alright, I was going to say something else, but...

You need some 'official' training with firearms, safe record or not. There are just some things you DON'T do with loaded weapons. You'd be suprised what is learned in safety classes.

Frankly I couldn't care less you punched a hole in your apartment. I'm more concerned with who/what you almost hit in the process of jacking around with a loaded gun.

Better get that hole patched pretty damn quick...
 
Thank you all for the input.

stephen: the apartment complex is not owned by schools, yet it is a complex geared towards students in its marketing, but free for anyone to move into.

my roommate is an extremely sound sleeper, and there's a slight chance he also may have had his excellent ambience-killing headphones on playing a game. who knows. i will not mention it to him at all.

my plan:
-firearm next to bed, not under pillow
-any drills done while thoroughly awake and with snap-caps or empty cartridges with used primers (i wont dry fire my gun)
-not telling anyone except close friends a good long while down the road
-patching up the hole on both ends ASAP...probably around the times when nobody is moving at night...for example the approximate time i shot the damn hole in the first place....*hits self in head*
-look for self defense training, etc as so not to rely solely on homemade drills and be properly prepared for firearm use in defending my home.

im a pretty good shot i just dont get to go shooting much...in fact rarely. ahh the joys of being a 21 year old trying to find financial stability heh.

Thanks again.
 
Why in the heck did you cock it again :confused:

Never mind...

Evidently you broke all the rules of safe gunhandling...all at the same time.

Nowhere to go but up :D
 
I always keep my bedside gun in such a manner that I have to be (mostly) awake to make contact with it. You don't want to be dreaming or out of it, and make contact with it without the gears upstairs turning fully and smoothly. I strongly suggest the same for anyone with a gun near where they sleep.
 
OBIWAN, yeah I broke all the rules of safe gunhandling and you're right, nowhere to go but up. But what are you talking about cocking it again? After I fired the shot I unloaded the weapon and put it away for the night.
 
Capt Charlie--I agree, that is wise. My nightstand is at the foot of my bed, and I was thinking laying it on the floor (I have no pets except a securely caged rat, and no children, and a deadbolt on my room door per apartment design) next to my bed, with the train of thought that there would be no time to crawl to the end of the bed to grab it when needed. Which do you suggest?
 
I think Obiwan was asking why you cocked it in the first place. A single action trigger pull is very light (as I'm sure you are now WELL AWARE) and can go off accidentally with just very little pressure (nother fact I'm sure you are also very well aware of). A revolver should be fired in double action mode for self defense situations. If you cannot fire in DA accurately, you can get a trigger job and practice until you can fire accurately. Single action should be saved for the range or greater distances when hunting.

A few other things (not to beat you up about it):
-Treat every gun as if it was loaded.
-Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
-Know your target and what lies beyond it.

These three safety rules could prevent just about all accidental discharges.
 
The floor's not a bad idea if you can slide it just a little ways under the bed. Mine is kept in a nightstand drawer, and in a retention holster. I've stayed in motels where the nightstand wasn't an option (barely big enough to hold the clock & phone), & I kept my Walther under my pillow in an Uncle Mike's with the strap secured over the hammer. It has to be a compromise between speed and being cognizant enough to gain access to it.
 
fair enough, stephen. I can fire double action pretty accurately no problem. The gun fits my hand perfectly. Those three safety rules I know by heart.

All summed up, i completely ignored all knowledge and common sense and decided to be a dumbass...

Thanks for the input, cap'n!
 
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